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Home > Public affairs > Public Engagement Grant

Public Engagement Grant


The British Ecological Society actively encourages its members and others to engage the public with exciting and important aspects of ecology.  The BES’s Public Engagement Grant scheme is to provide support, up to £2000, to help them do it. 

Objectives
The objectives of the grant are to support the development of projects that:

  • Raise public awareness of and engagement with ecology
  • Stimulate discussion about ecological science and its implications for society
  • Inspire and enthuse people about ecology, especially those not previously interested in ecology
  • Develop the communications skills of individuals involved

Eligibility
The competitive award scheme is open to individuals and organisations to organise public engagement events in ecology.  This includes, but not limited to, members of the BES, researchers, schools, museums, libraries and community groups. 

Value
The maximum award is £2000.  However, the award may be used as part-funding for larger projects involving other sponsors. 

Grants will not be awarded to cover:

  • Staff salaries
  • Purchase of general apparatus, including computers, cameras etc, unless it is shown to be integral to the application

Applications from museums and schools are welcome but project have to involve significant outreach beyond the school, pupils and their families. Projects that are aimed solely at school children and/or at delivering the school curriculum will not be funded. 

Criteria
Applications will be judged against the following criteria and should demonstrate:

  • Consistency with the grant’s objectives
  • Awareness of public interest and concerns including the relevance of the project to the target audience(s)
  • Exploration of underlying concepts and issues, rather than information provision
  • Clear objectives for the project and the potential to make an impact
  • Evidence of the adequate and appropriate means of publicity to reach the target audience
  • Realistic costing and evidence that any shortfall in the funding not covered by the Society’s award or by other organisations they might have applied to
  • Realistic assessment of practical issues such as copyright, insurance and health and safety issues
  • That the activity is dependent on the Society’s funding or that it adds a significant element

Application process
Please complete the application formand the Ethnic and Gender Monitoring Form  and submit them electronically to grants@britishecologicalsociety.org.

The next Public Engagement Grant application deadline:

  • 23rd April

Successful applicants

  • Final reports including summary of feedback should be sent to the BES within three months of the event.  Copies of promotional material and any press cuttings should be included in the final report.
  • Sections of the application and final report may be made public on the our website.
  • Recipients of grants are required to acknowledge the British Ecological Society on all of their promotional materials.  The BES logo will be sent to all successful applicants.